Page 5 of His Royal Request

I listened to my gut and nodded once while hoping I wouldn’t regret this decision. I was here for a fun holiday. An adventure. I was going to be brave and step out of my comfort zone.

“I’ll go with you.”

2

Aiden

Half of me expected her to back out. I waited in the lobby of her hotel keeping my head down and hoping to blend in with the surroundings. It wasn’t uncommon for me to be recognized in Ireland, but for the most part, the people were gracious enough to leave me be.

An older woman walked by and I stepped aside to let her pass. I felt her eyes on me and turned my back in hopes she would assume she was mistaken.

“Excuse me?” Her shrill voice seemed to cut through my skin. I closed my eyes and faced her.

“Ma’am?”

She peered up at me and tilted her head. “Do you know which direction I should head for the bus stop?”

I let out my breath. “Yes, ma’am. I spotted one just a block up the road.” I pointed her in the right direction and smiled when she thanked me. I watched her shuffle down the sidewalk and relaxed.

“Do you always go around saving women?”

I lifted my head and smiled at Charlie. She was wearing jeans and a white blouse with a small blue bird pattern that fit her nicely. Her light brown hair was curled and cascading over her shoulders. She looked beautiful and not quite as uncertain and shy like at the pub the night before.

I shrugged. “The damsels are drawn to me.”

Her hazel eyes crinkled while she laughed. I decided at that moment her eyes were my favorite feature.

“Well then, my knight in shining armor, lead the way.”

If only she knew how close she was with that description, though, my mother would faint if she heard someone refer to me or any of her sons as mere knights.

“All right, my lady. Follow me.” I picked up her suitcase and led her out of the lobby and down the sidewalk to where George was waiting. The older man had a warm smile on his face as his eyes focused on Charlie behind me.

“Charlie,” Aiden said, “this is George, my driver.”

George stuck out his hand for her. “Pleasure to meet you, miss.”

She smiled at him and I could tell that she was sold on him. Most women were charmed by his folksy manner. George had a kind face and curly gray hair that was unruly under the hat he nearly always wore. I stopped making comments about his rotating collection of newsboy caps long ago since it was something that made him so endearing.

He opened the car door for her and she slid in with a smile. I got in on the other side and waited for George to get in the front. She turned me looking slightly suspicious.

“Who has a driver?”

I shrugged. “I do.”

She shook her head. “No, what normal person has a driver?”

I averted my gaze. “I'm not sure how to answer that.”

She sighed. “Okay fine. What do you do that requires you to have a driver?”

My eyes met George's in the rear-view mirror. He was smirking. He loved watching me squirm. When I told him last night that I'd met a girl I wanted to take around today he hadn't argued or asked any questions. He simply nodded and asked if she knew who I was. I’d told him no and I wanted to keep it that way for as long as possible. He’d laughed and said it should be fun to watch. So grateful for his relentless support.

I said, “I run a business in Lochland and I’m involved in politics.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So, you’re important enough to have your own driver, but no security?”

She acted like she was mocking me, but little did she know it took several meetings and a winning argument for me to be able to travel on my own without being followed by armed men.